Jammu July 11 (KNS) : The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that BJP's fast losing credibility on ground is the reason behind not holding assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir.
He said this while offering rich tributes to Madr-e-Meharban Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah on her 23rd death anniversary today at Sher-e- Kashmir Bhavan, Jammu.
The function was chaired by Provincial President Jammu Province Rattan Lal Gupta and was organized by Provincial President Women Wing Satwant Kour Dogra.
On this occasion Senior BJP leader Surinder Choudhary and former legislator from Nowshera Constituency along with his supporters and BJP officer bearers resigned from BJP and joined the National Conference. Welcoming the new entrant into the party fold, Omar Abdullah hoped that the joining will help strengthen the party on the ground.
Party Treasurer Shammi Oberoi, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, Central Secretary Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Zone President Pir Panjal Javed Ahmed Rana, Provincial Secretary Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, former minister and Central Zone President Babu Rampaul were also present.
Earlier senior party leader GH Malik organized a Quran Khawani Majlis in Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, Jammu.
In his address Omar said that the fast diminishing standing of BJP across J&K was the reason why elections are not being held in the beleaguered region. “The BJP has lost its face as their claims about them being the champions of the Jammu cause have ringed hollow. Running away from elections means conceding defeat. There is no way they can face the unemployed youth, small-scale traders and poorest of poor across Jammu. The ruling party has already accepted the reality that it has lost its mass base in all three regions of J&K. They know that they have to face questions from unemployed youth, struggling housewives, distraught JKSSB aspirants, local contractors and small scale businessmen,” he said.
Targeting the ruling BJP, Omar asked, “These are a few questions the party needs to answer to the people since the party claims to have undone the so called years of injustice. Why are they perpetrating injustice by not allowing the people a representative government? If they claim to be the biggest benefactors of the people of J&K, then why shy away from elections?”
He said that the BJP on account of its fast receding ground across Jammu plains is using power tactics to stop politicians from joining NC. “Jammu people are as unhappy with BJP as the people of Kashmir. Today a growing number of people in Jammu are viewing the post August scenario differently. Absence of any provision to safeguard the interests of the local populace over land issues and job security, questions are being raised over outsourcing of contracts, and jobs. Opening up of the local retail sector for big business units from outside has also added to the sense of betrayal among our brothers and sisters across Jammu, Pir Panjal and Chenab regions. In the backdrop of this looming insecurity the people of Jammu irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and region have pinned their hope on NC. The hearts and minds of the people across Jammu are focused on issues of bread and butter, and jobs for local youth,” he added.
On this occasion National Conference Provincial Office bearers and Senior leaders participated in the programme in strength.
Among other Jugal Mahajan, Capt Moti Ram, Bimla Luthra Ex-MLA, Bushan Lal Bhat Ex-MLC, Master Noor Hussain, Pardeep Bali Provincial Secretary, Vijay Lakhshmi Datta, Abdul Gani Teli P.P OBC Cell, Dr. Shamshad Shan DDC Chairperson Ramban, Shamim Begum DDC Dansal, Chander Mohan Sharma District President Jammu Urban, Raghbir Singh Manhas District President Jammu Rural A, Naresh Bittu Provincial President Jammu Rural B, Sudagar Chand Gupta District President Samba, Shafayat Ahmed Khan District President Rajouri Urban, Master Aslam, Rakesh Singh Raka, Ravi Dogra, Dr. Vikas, Rita Gupta, Th. Yashu Vardhan Singh Additional Spokesperson Jammu, Zeeshan Rana Additional Spokesperson, Mohinder Singh, Ashok Kumar Attri, Harshvardhan Singh President NCSU, Chander Udhay Singh, S. Gurnam, Singh, Ashwani Charak, Haji Maqbool, S. Balwinder Singh, Mohinder Kumar Rana, Reyaz Ahmed Hakala, Devi Dayal Jogi, Waris Gill President Christian Cell, Jatin Bhat, Asha Mehra, Rashida Begum, S Nirmal Singh, Daljeet Sharma District President Jammu Rural B, Kuldeep Kour District President Jammu Rural A, Dev Raj, Jatinder Choudhary, Jatinder Bhagat, Amit, Sardar Tejinder , Nitish Gowsami, Gorav Kapoor, Sandeep Singh, Muzamil Malik, Zamir Quershi, Sandesh Shan, Som Raj Taroch, Robin Kumar, S. Pirthpal Singh, Rohit Choudhary, Zaffar Choudhary, Meed Choudhary also paid glowing tributes to Madre Maharban.(KNS)